Squad news

ROTATIONS AT DEPORTIVO

09 Sep 2008All appoints that Miguel Angel Lotina will make rotations for the upcoming visit to Villarreal. The long journey of three international players, De Guzm??n, Guardado and Omar Bravo, are the main reasons why the Basque coach will introduce changes in the line-up. At least he has confirmed that Depor will keep playing with the system of four defenders.

Coach Miguel Angel Lotina was very clear when he was asked about the possibility of making rotations for the visit to Villarreal on Sunday (17h00) â?I havenât thought yet if I will make rotations or not, but I will have in count there are two consecutive games in the next week. People will come from long travels, and if we have games on Sunday and Thursday, evidently they wonât play at the same level after a match with the national team and a long trip. Besides we have people here, we will valorise it for the match against Villarreal.â?

The other change should be the introduction of Juan Rodr?­guez to replace De Guzm??n in midfield. The Canadian, together with Omar Bravo and Guardado, will play in todayâs World Cup qualifier confrontation between Canada and Mexico and their arrival to La Coru?±a is not expected until Friday. But they could be back for Thursday UEFA clash against SK Brann. Actually Omar Bravo could be replacing Mista for that game as the ex-Valencia will probably be the starter against Villarreal.

Maybe the biggest doubt for Sundayâs game at El Madrigal is to know if Lotina will keep Joan Verd?? as starter or if he will trust in Juan Carlos Valer??n for the playmaking position. Other possibility is to play with both men at the same time, this choice will mean to take right winger Pablo Alvarez out of the squad and to replace him with Valer??n.

Whatâs clear is that Lotina will keep playing with a line of four defenders at the back. Pablo Amo is already discarded for this game and itâs clear the Basque trainer will keep playing with the same names that faced Real Madrid. This means Aranzubia on the goal, Laure at the right-back position, Filipe Luis on the left side and the duo Ze Castro-Lopo on the centre.

Meanwhile, Villarreal received good news on Tuesday as it was know that striker Guille Franco is now fine after suffering a knee injury on Mondayâs training. The doctors though the case might be serious, but the fears were cleared on Tuesday as they announced the Mexican is now fit to play. This is a big relief for coach Manuel Pellegrini since he only has Joseba Llorente as a back-up after Josmer Altidore is unfit and after the injuries of Nihat Kahveci and Giuseppe Rossi (both knee).